Feature: Chinese swimmer Li Bingjie regains confidence at World Championships

Chinese swimmer Li Bingjie broke her own Asian record to win silver in the women's 400m freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships, and defeated her role model Katie Ledecky for the first time at a major meet, marking a strong comeback after her Paris 2024 Olympics setback.

by sportswriters Li Jia and Wang Zijiang

SINGAPORE, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Li Bingjie rarely displays emotion, but on Sunday she was in tears after winning a silver medal in the women's 400m freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

The 23-year-old Chinese swimmer clocked three minutes 58.21 seconds, breaking her own Asian record and overtaking American legend Katie Ledecky in the final stretch to secure China's first swimming medal at the championships. Canada's Summer McIntosh took gold in 3:56.26, while Ledecky claimed bronze in 3:58.49.

"I was really surprised - I didn't expect to beat her (Ledecky)," Li said. "I kept to my own rhythm early in the race, and when it came to the last 100 meters, I saw the gap wasn't too big, so I tried my best to catch up. Even though she may not have been at her best, this victory means a lot to me - it's very special."

Li began swimming at the age of seven and has risen to become one of China's top freestyle swimmers. At the Tokyo Olympics four years ago, she won gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay and bronze in the 400m freestyle. She maintained her strong form early 2024, helping China win gold in the 4x200m relay and earning silver in the 400m at the World Championships in Doha.

However, the Paris 2024 Olympics proved a setback, as she failed to reach the finals in both the 400m and 800m freestyle events. "Paris hit me hard," she admitted. "I started to think maybe I really wasn't on the same level as the top swimmers. It made me lose confidence."

"After Paris, I felt like I wasn't at their level," she shared honestly. "It was a difficult time, and I had to work hard to find my confidence again."

Sunday's silver marked her first victory over Ledecky at a major international meet - something she had dreamed of for years. "She's someone I've always looked up to," Li said. "In 2017, I said I wanted to surpass her. She's a great athlete, and I've learned so much from her. To finally beat her…it's something I've held close to my heart for a long time."

Ledecky, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist, said she wasn't at her best. "I would've liked to be a little faster. I was faster earlier this year," said the American. "But I can't complain. Fourth place was a 3:58 - that could've easily been me."

Despite this emotional breakthrough, Li remains eager to improve. "I still want to improve," she said. "And I hope to compete against her again - when she's at her peak - and try to beat her once more." ■